Report fly-tipping

Illegal waste dumping or fly-tipping is a serious concern for the Council and the local community.

It is a health hazard, can be physically dangerous, and fly-tippers shift the financial burden of cleaning up their waste onto tax payers.

Report fly-tipping

The quickest way to report fly-tipping is via Love Clean Hackney. You take a photo and send in your report using our free mobile apps or website. We will deal with your report and keep you updated on its progress.

Before you report fly-tipping

do not disturb the site - it may contain evidence that could help identify the offenders

If you see someone fly-tipping, please try to make a note of:

the day, date and time

what they looked like

any vehicles involved (and their make, colour and registration number)

Responsibilities of residents

As a householder, you have a legal obligation to take all reasonable measures to ensure that your waste is disposed of properly. For normal household rubbish and recycling, you should use these services:

DIY or building waste

We will not collect building or DIY waste including tiles, carpet, rubble or fencing.

You or your builder must arrange for it to be collected by a licensed waste carrier. It is your responsibility to ensure that the waste carrier hired is registered with the Environment Agency:

always ask whether they are registered waste carrier

ask for their waste carrier number to verify details

request a waste transfer note - this is a document which must accompany any transfer of waste between different holders.

Responsibilities of businesses

If you own or run a business in Hackney, you must make arrangements for your commercial waste to be collected by a registered waste carrier. You have a responsibility to ensure that:

you have an appropriate waste collection agreement to dispose of your business waste

you prevent the escape of your business waste (which can cause a nuisance to local residents)

your business waste is transferred to a registered waste carrier for disposal who provides you with a waste transfer note (WTN) or receipt as evidence of waste disposal

you keep records of your WTN or receipt for a minimum period of two years and are able to provide it upon request from the Council (businesses disposing of waste who to fail to provide waste transfer notes for a period of covering 2 years may be prosecuted or issued with a £300 penalty notice)

you present your waste for collection in line with refuse collection regulations for the road on which your business is located

if you own vacant land, you must ensure that it is secured and not easily accessible by the public

Fly-tipping is an offence

Dumping waste without permission is a serious criminal offence which can carry a fine up to £50,000 and a prison sentence.It is also an offence to allow someone else to fly-tip or illegally dump waste on your behalf. If you arrange for waste to be removed, you should check the contractor's duty of care notice which allows them to legally dispose of rubbish.

How we manage fly-tipping and waste

The Council can prosecute anyone caught dumping waste:

we can prosecute people controlling vehicles used to dump waste, and seize vehicles used in fly-tipping offences. This means that it is possible to prosecute even if the driver of the vehicle is not identifiable

we can also issue warnings and fixed penalty notices for less serious cases of fly-tipping